Topology selection and design optimization for magnetostrictive inertial actuators

When designing a magnetostrictive inertial actuator, it is important to minimize the amount of magnetostrictive material and permanent magnet while satisfying design requirements. In this paper, we developed a magnetic circuit model that is simple yet realistic, as verified through finite element analyses. Using this model, different actuator topologies are compared in terms of the least necessary magnet size and leakage/fringing fluxes. If the magnets are in direct contact with the magnetostrictive rod, much smaller magnets can generate the required bias level than the case where the magnets are located in the flux return path, at the cost of significant field variations inside the magnetostrictive material. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3673431]